POLICY (TACTICAL) SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE

Transcription

1 POLICY (TACTICAL) SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE RELATED DOCUMENTS Enrolment for Catholic Schools TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 1 of 9

2 SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY RELATED DOCUMENTS Enrolment for Catholic Schools RATIONALE Catholic social teaching and tradition echo the Gospel imperative of a preferential option for the poor and the Catholic school sector s practice has been to find a place for families who support its ethos but are unable to participate in a Catholic school community without financial assistance. the Church earnestly entreats pastors and all the faithful to spare no sacrifice in helping Catholic schools fulfil their function in a continually more perfect way, and especially in caring for the needs of those who are poor in the goods of this world or who are deprived of the assistance and affection of a family or who are strangers to the gift of Faith. Paul VI, Declaration on Christian Education, Gravissimum Educationis (October 28, 1965) Financial assistance is a tangible way for the Catholic school sector to provide opportunities for the financially less fortunate families within our community to enrol their child at a Catholic school. No child should be denied a Catholic education because of the cost of fees. In accordance with the Tasmanian Catholic Education Commission Vision and Mission Statement (2006) this policy endeavours to:! respond to human need with compassion, fairness and justice that respects the dignity of all, and! actively engage with and support the marginalised and disenfranchised within our community and the wider society. TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 2 of 9

3 POLICY The objective of this policy is to provide access to Catholic education to those families whose children are eligible for enrolment 1 but who are unable to enrol because of financial hardship. DEFINITIONS School Fee Discounts Available to all families with three or more children in a Catholic School. School Fee Assistance Available to families with significant financial needs who would otherwise be unable to afford to send their children to a Catholic school. PRINCIPLES 1. Catholic schools are accessible to all families willing to support the Catholic ethos regardless of their personal, financial and pastoral circumstances. 2. No family who supports the Catholic ethos should be denied a place at a Catholic school because of an inability to afford full fees. 3. Each school Principal in collaboration with that school s Board using the general guidelines outlined in this policy is responsible for identifying and supporting those families who may need assistance. 4. The provision of school fees assistance should be at the discretion of the Principal based on a pastoral interview and a completed fees assistance application form. 5. Allowance should be made in a school s budget for fee discounts and fee reductions. PROCEDURES / GUIDELINES / REQUIREMENTS 1 See TCEC Enrolment Policy and individual school enrolment policies TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 3 of 9

4 1. Principals are encouraged to use the application procedures prepared by the TCEC from time to time to promote equitable and fair treatment within the Tasmanian Catholic education sector. 2. There are two forms of fee assistance for families in need:! Fee discounts for families with 3 or more children in Catholic schools.! Fee reductions for families in financial hardship. 3. A family is eligible for School Fee Assistance regardless of whether all children attend the one Tasmanian Catholic school or different Tasmanian Catholic schools. 4. Recommended minimum fee discounts which should be offered are as follows:! Three children 10% for each child in a Tasmanian Catholic school.! Four children 20% for each child in a Tasmanian Catholic school.! Five or more children 30% for each child in a Tasmanian Catholic school. 5. The fee discount application process 2 provides a family with three or more children with an opportunity to apply for a fee discount that should be granted without the need for any further enquiry. 6. Families who wish to pay full fees without applying for the discount may do so by not making an application for a discount thereby enabling those fees to be used to support the whole school community. 7. School Principals provide fee reductions for children in need based on negotiation with parents or caregivers and at the discretion of each principal The funds required to assist families will continue to be sourced from school budgets. 9. The role of the Tasmanian Catholic Education Commission is to: 2 See appendix 1 for recommended application form: Fees Discount Scheme 3 See appendix 2 for recommended application form: Application for Fees Assistance TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 4 of 9

5 ! develop guidelines and procedures for assessing financial need and providing assistance for families in need,! promote uniformity and transparency in the application of those guidelines and procedures to ensure those in greatest need obtain assistance,! have the joint responsibility, in association with the Executive Director of Catholic Education and the Principals of Catholic schools, to inform the community that Catholic schools provide assistance to families who experience hardship especially in the payment of fees for their children,! work with the TCEO s Media/Promotions Officer in collaboration with the Principals of Catholic schools to publicise and promote the availability of a Catholic education to all students regardless of their means, and! review and modify those guidelines and procedures from time to time. TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 5 of 9

6 REFERENCES Nil FORMS Nil APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2 Letter to Parents / Caregivers about Fees Discount Scheme in Tasmanian Catholic Schools / Colleges Application for Fees Assistance SIGNED: TCEC Chairperson DATE: Approved by: TCEC Issuing Group: Policy & Executive Support Services Implementation Date: 1 January 2007 Supersedes Policy Dated: New Policy Revision Date: 2011 TCEO Contact Officer: Manager: Policy & Secondary Curriculum TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 6 of 9

7 APPENDIX 1 (School Letterhead) LETTER TO PARENTS / CAREGIVERS ABOUT FEES DISCOUNT SCHEME IN TASMANIAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS / COLLEGES Date: Dear Parent / Caregiver Families with three (3) or more children in Catholic schools are eligible for a fee discount. To assist us in calculating the fee discount would you please complete the form below and return it to the school office by. Failure to return the form will result in full fees being charged. In fact, you may wish to pay full fees and donate the discount to our fees account which assists other families who struggle financially to access Catholic education. FEE DISCOUNT INFORMATION STUDENT S NAME: First Name Surname To whom should the account be sent? Father Mother Both Caregiver Please tick ( ) appropriate box/es NAME: POSTAL ADDRESS: Postcode: Please list children at other Catholic schools in 20.. Include brothers and sisters attending this school. NAME SCHOOL GRADE I / we wish to claim the fees discount. I / we wish to donate the fees discount to the school fee s account to support families in need. Please tick ( ) one box only NAMES: SIGNATURES: DATES: Fee discounts apply in all Tasmanian Catholic schools and colleges 3 children in Catholic schools 10% for each child 4 children in Catholic schools 20% for each child 5 or more children in Catholic schools 30% for each child TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 7 of 9

8 APPENDIX 2 (School Letterhead) APPLICATION FOR FEES ASSISTANCE APPLICANT S NAME: ADDRESS: Postcode: 1 st PARENT/CAREGIVER: Occupation: Income/wage: $ 2 ND PARENT/CAREGIVER: Occupation: Income/wage: $ CENTRELINK BENEFIT (Please refer to reverse side of this form): COMBINED GROSS FAMILY INCOME: $ Do you qualify for STAS (Student Assistance Scheme)? YES NO Do you have a Health Care Card? YES NO Number of school age children in your care? Number of children of pre school age children in your care? Child s Name Age School Fees paid by you now Other assistance provided PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOUR APPLICATION IS APPROVED YOUR REDUCED FEES ARE TO BE PAID IN THE MONTH THEY FALL DUE FOR PAYMENT. If you are already on reduced fees can you afford to increase your present fee? STATE FEE YOU ARE ABLE TO PAY (PER MONTH): $ YES NO SIGNATURES: Parents / Caregivers DATES: Please fill in details overleaf. When you have completed the application, please arrange an appointment with the Principal or the Business Manager (Phone:..). PLEASE NOTE A new application must be made each year. Please return this form to the school as soon as possible. TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 8 of 9

9 PLEASE COMPLETE As appropriate Age Pension $.. Disability Support Pension $.. Partner Allowance $.. Sickness Allowance $.. Parenting Payment $.. Special Benefit $.. Wife Pension $.. Youth Allowance $.. Family Tax Benefit Austudy / Abstudy $.. $.. Any other Pensions or benefits (e.g. Newstart Allowance) Please name: $.. Details of major expenses that affect your ability to pay school fees eg mortgage, car loan, etc. Are there any other reasons why you feel special consideration should be given in your case e.g. sickness, unemployment, etc. Comments: Office use only TCEC Policies & Procedures SCHOOL FEES ASSISTANCE POLICY Page 9 of 9